Early Dawn Microfinance Company Ltd (DAWN) is expecting lending in Myanmar to pick up on the back of the launch of a credit bureau in the country later this year, and as the banking sector opens up. “Myanmar is already in the process of opening up the banking sector and we see opportunities to serve […]

More European businesses say they have lost confidence in Myanmar due to concerns about the National League for Democracy-led government’s management of the economy compared to the last two years, a new survey shows. According to the latest survey from the European Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar (EuroCham) published yesterday, a majority of firms (81 […]

Myanmar’s economy has taken a beating in recent quarters, with a rising number of companies reporting tougher business conditions and a slowdown in market demand. One of the main reasons is the rising foreign exchange rate. Despite a slew of measures taken by the Central Bank, which included pumping millions of dollars from its reserves […]

The government has to find someone who can pick up the baton swiftly and restore confidence to an increasingly frustrated business community since U Kyaw Win has resigned as planning and finance minister. With economic reforms slowing and plummeting of investor confidence, the next office-holder needs to communicate the reform blueprint to the private sector, […]

Economic liberalisation came relatively late to Myanmar, but the country has been working hard to make up for its slow start. Following a military coup in 1962, the country was governed by an oppressive dictatorship and subsequently experienced the ignominy of being rated one of the least developed and most corrupt nations in the world. […]

The Myanmar economy is on target for further growth in 2017-18 and as it moves forward into a fresh fiscal year, but there are policy and reform risks that could derail growth, said Yumiko Tamura, principal country specialist, ADB Myanmar Resident Mission at the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Ms Tamura yesterday presented the ADB’s growth […]

Myanmar needs to establish a regulatory roadmap for the banking sector. This will give the local banks more clarity on the progress and timing of upcoming regulations, allowing them to gear up for further reform and growth. “Carrying out regulatory reform at an unmeasured pace can cause trouble,” said Azeem Azimuddin, CFO of Ayeyarwady Bank, […]

Central to Myanmar’s economic development is the reform of its finance sector and specifically its banking sector. Banks play a fundamental role in the transformation of market economies. Recently the government has enacted a series of laws intended to reform and strengthen its banking institutions to restore investors’ confidence and to make capital more accessible. […]

Sumitomo Mitsubishi Banking Corporation is testing the use of forward exchange rate contracts in Myanmar, in response to clients eager for a way to hedge against kyat volatility. The Japanese lender is providing a forward contract to one of its Japanese clients, an official at the SMBC’s Yangon offices told The Myanmar Times. He said […]

The energy sector will help fuel foreign investment in Myanmar during the 2015-16 fiscal year. That was the main message to come out of the Myanmar Global Investment Forum held in Nay Pyi Taw 15-16 September attended by over 800 local business people and foreign experts. For the last three years, Myanmar’s political and business […]